LEC Partners with Painesville City Local Schools to Implement Future Teacher Pipeline

Painesville teens considering a career as a pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade teacher now have a greater chance of making that dream a reality. In November 2018, Dr. Josh Englehart, Superintendent of Painesville City Schools (PCLS) and Dr. Katharine Delavan, Dean of the School of Education at Lake Erie College (LEC), received one of five Strengthening Ohio’s Teacher Pipeline Through Partnership grants funded through a joint initiative between the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE). The intent of the grant is to support teacher preparation programs in their recruitment of future teachers, as Ohio is facing a teacher shortage. ODHE and ODE leadership believes this grant helps to establish and foster partnerships that help strengthen Ohio’s teacher pipeline for years to come. The grant funds are used to conduct research and create marketing materials for the teacher pipeline. The survey and focus group research is currently being conducted with eighth through twelfth grade students to gain an understanding of their perceptions of the teaching profession.

Dr. Delavan, shares, “So far, we have learned that PCLS students were not aware of the average pay for a teacher in Northeast Ohio is $57,000 upwards to $100,000 with a Master’s degree and additional duties; such as coaching. Students were not aware of the teacher shortage in Ohio and across the country, as well as, the need for districts to hire diverse teachers.”

“At Lake Erie College our leadership team strives to be good civic stewards,” adds Dr. Delavan. “It was evident that one of the biggest challenges the community faced was building a skilled workforce and addressing the need for a diverse teaching populations.”

Additionally, Delavan notes many high school students tend to believe teaching does not pay enough to live on once they graduate, and they fear they won’t find a teaching position. “The reality couldn’t be farther from that assumption, points out Delavan. “I strongly believe we can break down these barriers by educating students about the multiple pathways to earning a teaching license and demonstrate ways in which to save time and money.”

The partnership grant allows the PCLS and LEC to develop a high-quality recruitment campaign that includes the established CCP pathway for teacher licensure. The CCP pathway reduces the cost and time to complete a teacher licensure program. The three-year project consists of the creation of recruitment materials and establishing the content delivered at a variety of pipeline recruitment events provided for Harvey High School students. The pipeline project includes information sessions about the CCP Pipeline, a mentoring program, Educators Rising Workshops, recruitment videos, and promotional materials.

“This wonderful initiative is yet another example of how Lake Erie College has been strengthening our relationship with local schools,” states LEC President, Brian Posler. “I am proud of the work by Dean Delavan and her colleagues, for it will positively impact future generations of students, and will serve our region well.”

The three-year action plan will run from January, 2019 through 2022. “We are confident this initiative will be rewarding for the future teachers, but also continue and strengthen our long and prosperous relationship between LEC and its hometown partner, PCLS,” summarizes Dr. Delavan.

Dr. Englehart concludes, “Through our collective efforts on this project, Painesville City Schools and Lake Erie College can increase student opportunity while at the same time contributing strength and diversity to the wider field of education.”

Students or interested parties may learn more at LEC.edu or by contacting Dr. Katherine Delavan at kdelavan@lec.edu